If you are the parent or legal guardian of a child who has reached the age of discernment (7 yrs) , they may be eligible to receive the Sacrament of Holy Communion. As you decide if your child is prepared or not, you are encouraged to consider prayerfully your child’s readiness to receive this Sacrament. This is not something to be taken lightly. To help you understand what “readiness” means, please consider the following:
A child is eligible to receive the Holy Eucharist for the first time when she/he: has been Baptized according to the Rites of the Catholic Church, or, having been baptized in a different church, has been welcomed into the Catholic Church through a Rite of Reception; has reached the age of discernment (7 yrs); and understands that the Eucharistic Host is not an ordinary piece of bread but is the true Body of Christ.
A child is fully prepared for the reception of Holy Eucharist when they appreciate the need for Sacramental Reconciliation (Confession) before going to Holy communion. This means that they understand that there is a deep connection between what they believe and how they live their lives. They must understand that should there be any disagreements between the two, changes need to be made. Furthermore, it is through the Sacrament of Reconciliation that we learn God’s love and mercy is available to help them at every step of life’s journey.
A child is well prepared for the reception of Holy Eucharist by regular (weekly) attendance at Mass. Because this is a Sacrament of Initiation, by which a person is invited to enter deeper into the mysteries of our Faith, its fruitfulness can only be expected by those who cooperate with the graces available to them at all times.
If you have any questions or would like more information on the Sacrament of First Holy communion, please contact us at stmarymtforest@wightman.ca or by calling 519-323-1054
To register, click on the link
To download and print off the form, use the following link:
https://stmarymountforest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/First-Communion-Registration-Forms-2026.pdf